"Even stars cast shadows... when they're too bright to ignore."
Scene 1 – A Forehead Kiss and a Heavy Thought
May 14, 2011 – 6:12 AM – Hoshino Household, Tokyo
The morning was unusually still.
No sizzling pans. No Ai humming in the kitchen. No Ruby fussing over her bedhead.
Ai stood in the hallway, her gaze lingering on Souta's closed door.
She absently traced the healed scar on her finger—the one he had fixed for her long ago. She remembered that day. The childish grin, the earnest curiosity, the words so innocent, yet strangely heavy.
"Anyone can do it, can't they?"
She smiled—soft, but with something fragile beneath it.
Then, she knocked.
Inside, Souta sat by the window, his pajama sleeves slipping off one shoulder, hair messy like he had barely slept. Happy curled up on his lap, still small and warm.
Ai moved without a word, settling beside him. She wrapped her arms around him in a slow, quiet embrace.
"You're thinking again."
Souta exhaled.
"...Always."
"You don't have to protect everything, Souta."
His fingers curled slightly.
"But if I don't… who will?"
Ai sighed, brushing his bangs back with gentle hands. Then, she pressed a light kiss to his forehead.
"If you carry everything, you'll forget what it feels like to live."
Scene 2 – Normal, Just For Today
8:41 AM – High School Courtyard, Tokyo
Ruby dragged Aqua by the wrist across the courtyard, practically bouncing with excitement.
"Hurry up, hurry up!"
Aqua frowned.
"Ruby… you know I don't care about the new gym."
"But you're going to anyway."
A sigh.
"...You're just like Ai."
Behind them, Souta walked at his own pace, leisurely popping bubble gum between exaggerated chews.
"Ne, Aqua-nii~ do you think you'll ever marry?"
Aqua blinked, caught completely off guard.
"What the hell—why are you asking that?!"
Ruby smirked.
"Because I said I'll marry my career and Souta said he'll marry candy, so I wanna know if you'll marry revenge."
Aqua froze.
"...You're not wrong."
Souta tilted his head, voice light but firm.
"Then I'll make sure your revenge doesn't die alone!"
Aqua had to turn away to hide the ghost of a smile tugging at his lips.
Scene 3 – Inugami's Invitation
11:15 AM – Classroom 2-B
"Group project partners," the teacher announced. "Souta and Inugami, you're together."
Souta popped his gum, leaning casually toward Kei.
"Fate's being dramatic again."
Kei gave a quiet chuckle.
"It tends to be."
They walked toward the library together, the air between them oddly comfortable.
Then, Kei spoke—his voice lower, more deliberate.
"Do you ever feel like your power was meant for more?"
Souta blinked.
"Like… saving the universe from giant flying spaghetti monsters?"
Kei smiled faintly.
"Or undoing all pain. Fixing all wrongs."
Souta stopped walking.
His gum rested idly on his tongue now.
"That's a dangerous thing to say."
Kei's expression remained calm.
"Isn't it what you want?"
Souta looked at him. Really looked at him.
"...No."
His voice was quiet. Resolute.
"I just want them to be happy."
Kei studied him.
"Even if the world burns?"
Souta's eyes darkened.
"The world would never burn. Not while I'm in it."
Scene 4 – The Whisper from the Mirror
11:52 PM – Inugami's Apartment
Kei stood before the mirror again.
But this time—he wasn't alone.
The glass rippled, as if it were alive.
Something lurked behind it—coiled, patient, waiting.
"He won't accept it."
"He will, eventually."
"He's too pure."
A low chuckle, deep and feminine, twisted through the air.
"Then we'll stain him."
The thing behind the glass—shifting, warping, breathing without lungs—smiled without lips.
"Soon, he'll have to choose between his family… and the truth."
Kei didn't flinch.
"And if he chooses both?"
The mirror laughed.
"Then he'll destroy the world trying to keep it."
Scene 5 – Midnight Vow Under a Lonely Sky
Same Time – Hill Outside Tokyo
Souta stood alone on a grassy slope, where no one could hear the wind scream.
His fingers curled.
He raised his hand—and grasped something far greater than himself.
The universe responded, shifting like a great, tame dragon bending to his will.
He inhaled.
And in that breath—
the concept of suffering trembled.
"I won't let anyone hurt them."
"I don't care what gods, what devils, what destinies…"
He smiled, slow and certain.
"I'll rewrite the ending myself."
Then—
A sound.
Souta turned.
Ruby stood there, flashlight in hand, hoodie two sizes too big, her expression unreadable.
"Souta…"
His breath hitched.
"Nee-chan?"
She stepped forward, her gaze unwavering.
"If you're hurting… I wanna hurt with you."
Souta blinked.
His chest felt tight.
Then—his voice cracked.
"...Then I'm never hurting again."
And as Ruby hugged him under the quiet stretch of stars—
The sky forgot how to cry.
To Be Continued in Chapter 61 – The Thing Behind the Glass